Fountain-pen.



J. G. GOFFIN. FOUNTAIN PEN. APPLICATION PILED APB. 27, 1911.

Patented Dec.2, 1913.

. back into ing some JOSEPH d. corr-IN, ornnw can, Y., Ass'nonr Wittim ri-cuentan, or Bosroltnassncnnsnrrs.

roUNrAImrnN.

To all whom it may concern Be, it knownfthat I, Josnrn: Comix, al citizen of the United States residing at New York, county. of New YorkLState of New 5 York, have .invented an Improvement 1n Fountain-Pens, ofv which the following de.-

'scription, in connection with 'the'accompany` ing drawing, is a specification, llkecharaoters on the drawing' representing like parts. This invention relates to fountain pens and particularly to that class of fountain pens. 1n which the pen point is arranged to be carrled back into the barrel or ink reservoir and to remain therein when the pen is not in use 15 and is closed, and to be projected from said reservoir when the penis to be use d. Some fountain pens of this type are provided wlth automatically-operative means, such as `a spring, for' forcing thepen point out from the reservoir when thec'ap is remove'd, and while these pens have theadvantage that no separate manual operation is required for lprojecting thepenpoin't after the cap has been removed because lthis movement of the penpoint is secured automatically by the action of the spring, yet as heretofore made such pens-have the vdisadvantage that if in .writing the operator applies suiiicient pressure to the pen' lpoint in the direction of its length the pen point is likely to Jbe pushed of the ink to escape, this being because the pen point is held projected solely by the action of the springgand have also the further" disadvantage that when the'pen is 'to .be filled-the operator'has' to hold the pen point retracted against the action of the spring while dropping the ink' into the open m end of ttf. barrel either by using a stif wire or other implement, or by using the push pin in the cap, in which latter case-the' cap is usually provided with an aperture in itsV side through which the ink can be introduced.

One of the objects of my invention is to overcome these disadvantages-by providing a pen of this nature with means for locking the pen point either in its retracted or projected posi-tion, vention'are-to provide a novel construction whereby the en point maybe unlocked to permit it to e moved into or out of. the reservoir by the operation of screwing thel cap onto or removing it from the barrel;

In a pen embodying my invention the pen point is locked in its retracted position withspeiacatitn of netten Patent'. Application nieu April 27. 1911-. serial No. 623,571.

the barrel more or less, Athus allowand'other objects of the in'- -Patented Dec'. 2, 1913'.

'l in the ink reservoir lwhen the penis closed,

but the operation of removing the cap will unlock the'penv point so as to permit it tov be projected outwardly into writing position by. the automatic action of the spring, and when the pen is in sucltposition it will become locked'and will be positively held in its projected position until it is unlocked again by somev suitable manual'- manipulation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fountain pen of the above-described type with a' cap that isl constructed to close jthe pen either when thc pen point is projected or when it is -retraoted'so that if a person is using his penequently hecan simply apply the' cap thereto and cover the pen point without taking the time to retract the pen point and screw the cap'onto the barrel, while-ifi .the fountainpen is to be laid away for a longer time or is to be'- carried hey can close it in the usual way.

Further objects of my invention are to improve generally pens of this type, al1 as will be more fullyhereinafter described and then pointed out in' the appended claims.-

In order to'illustratethe principle of the -inve'ntiom-I ha-'ve shownA some selected embodiments thereof in the accompanyin drawings which will no-Wvbe described, it being understood that no attempt has been made toillustrateall possible embodiments of the invention.-

'In the drawings; Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fountainpen m-adein accordance with my invention,` said figure showing the pen pointretraoted and the cap screw-threaded tothe'barrel and closing'- the openend thereof; Figa-2 is asimilar view lshowing the pen point projected and the cap i in-posi-tion to cover said pen point; Fig. 3 is a section onthe line j-aa Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the lock released; Fig. 5 shows a different embodiment of my invention which employs a lock of a different construction lfrom that shown in Figs'. 1 and 2; Fig. '-shows--still another em-A bodiment o f my invention; Fig. 7 is a section on the line y-y, Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a section on the line a-a, Fig. 5;A Fig.' 9 is a section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5^; Fig. 10 isA a section on the line o o, Fig. 2; Fig. 11 is asection on theline IT-d, Fig. l.; Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a cap embodying my invention but constructed differently from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 13 is a section through j the ca-p shown in Fig. l12 on the line e--e,

. showing it applied to the barrel of the pen. 4 -The barrel or holder of my improved fountain pen is shown at 1 and this is pro- 5 vided with the interior ink reservoir 2 as usual and with the open end 4 through `which the pen point- 3 is moved when said point is being retracted or projected as usual in pens of this general type. The pen point is carried by a pen-carrying member 5 which-is provided with anl enlarged portion 6 which is adapted to close the open end 4 of the barrel when the penis projected, and i which is acted upon by a spring 11 outwardly. This enlarged portion 6 may l have any suitable shape or construction, but

I .will .preferably employ that'shown in my Patent No. 896,086, dated Au ust 18, 1908, and which comprises a cylindrical portion A 7 ada ted to fit within the cylindrical bore 8 at tlie terminus of the open end 4 andan annular portion 9 larger than the cylindrical portion 7 and which fits a' ainst the interior seat-10 within the barre 4. In my saidl patent the' pen point has connected thereto a retractablerod which carries a. plunger at its inner end that operates in a cylindrical f from the enlarged portion 6 and which enters and plays in a' chamber 13. This chambei` 13 may be' made in a variety of ways without departing from my invention.` In Figs. -1 toI 3,Ak for instance, it is formed in a separate section, 14 which is adapted to screw into the barrel 1 and which *forms the end thereof. The plunger 12 d oes not tightly fit the chamber 13, but instead there will be suiiicient space between'said plunger and the wallsof theI chamberso as to permit the plungerv to displace'thef` ink as the pen point is forced inwardly, and so as vto permit the ink to enter behind the plunger when the pen point is projected outwardly .by the action of the spring 11, all as described in by, -former patent. A AAs stated above, one of the objects of the presentinvention is to 'provide means for' locking the pen point in either its retracted or its projected position so that the pen point cannot be either projected or .retracteduntil the locking device is released. The advantage of this is that when the point is projected and is locked in its projectedv op.. erative position there will heno dan er that 'anyv` ressurel which maybe applic to the penin writing will cause the .penfpint to retract suiiciently to allow ink to 'run out a5 of the holder, and that when the pen peint which tends normally to force the pen point` gage is retracted and locked in its retracted position the pen can be Ireadily filled without the necessity .of the user holding the pen point retracted during the lling operation.

While it is within my invention to employ any suitable locking means adapted to oldthe pen point positively in either of its 4two positions, yet I prefer for many reasons to use a lock'which is automatic in the sense that it will automatically become operative when the pen point is brought into either of its two positions. The lock shown in Figs. 1-4 comprises a resilient locking member 15 which is adapted to engage either the shoulder 16 on .the plunger 12toho1d the pen point projected, or the shoulder 17 on said' plunger to hold'the pen point retracted sufliciently to ermit the ink reservoir to Lbe filled. I u` igs. 1,2 and 3 the locking meinber is shown in the form of a U-shaped wire,

the arms of which occupy notches or slots 18 cut ,through the side walls o f said chamber 13. When this constructionlof locking member is used I may make. -th'e plunger 12 with two shoulders 16 andl two shoulders 17 on oppositev sidesthereof so that each of the arms of thev locking device will engage a f shoulder. Thelocking member 15 is loosely sustained by the walls of the chamber 13 so that it can readily adapt itself to 'different positions of the plunger. With this construction it will be seen that when the pen its inoperative posipoint is retracted int er will automatically tion the locking mem y snap over the shoulder 17 thereby locking j the pen point retracted,I while when the lock is released and the pen point is projected and reaches .its operative position the locking device `will automatically snap over and engage the shoulder 16. The lockingdevice be disengaged from either shoulder by giving turn, for it will be'observed that the shoulders 16 and 17 do not extend clear around the plunger so that when said plunger is turned fr'oin the osition shown in Fig. 3 to that" shown in Fig. 4 the shoulders arecarvried out of alinem'ent with the locking device, andas soon as the smooth, unnotch'ed portion of the plunger comes in line with thelocking device, as shown in Fig. 4, the

plunger will be released so that it can be 'moved longitudinally, It will thus be seen that the locking device'shown in Figs. 1-4

is one which will iutomatic'ally lock the pen point in either of vits positions and which can be released by a partial turnv of the lplunger.A In- Figs. '6 and` 7 I have shown another form of locking device which is in the v'forni of a resilient pin`150 carried by the lwalls of the chamber 13 and,adapted to enthe'shouldersl and 17 formed on the stem 121 of the plunger y120. In this embodiment the plunger 120jis, larger than the plunger 12 in Figs. 1 and v2' and there will the pen point and plunger a` partial` 't Athe recess. When the parts are in this posi- 35 movement thereof' will be continued until vbe plenty'vofV room between the stem 121 and the .walls-of the chamber 13 to permit the locking pin to give when the plunger is y turned to release vthe lock as above described.

.fIt-would be -within my invention to give the plunger-its 4partial turn in any suitable way. One convenient way, however, is to do this by means ofthe cap 18. The cap is provided with a pushv pin 19 which is adapted are adapted tohave screw-threaded engagement with the screw-threads 22.0n the bar;

to engage thefeed bar or enlarged portion 6 and -force Ythe pen inwardly when the cap is inserted over the 'end of--the barrel, all

" as described in my aforesaid Patent No.l

896,086.. Inthe present invention I have made said push pin 19 non-circular in cross section and 'have .provided the end of the head or enlarged portion 6 with anon-'circib lar recess 20 adapted to -receive the end of the push pin so that when the cap is` placed over the end of the barrel the push pin will enter tion the plunger can be readily turned by simply turning the cap on the barrel.' The `cap is provided with screw-threads 21 Vas usual in .fountain pens of this nature which rel whenthe fountainlpen is closed.

To open thepen the cap is first unscrewed in usual mannerand during this operation v the pen point and plunger 12 willbe rotated with the cap, it being observed that the lockj ing device is such as tol permit this rotary movement `of theplunger. When the capis unscrewed ,from -the barrel `the turning the locking device is released when the ca will be removed and the spring l1 wi operate' automatically to project the pen 40 point 'and the ylatter will become automatically locked in its projected position'as :above described. W henthe penis to be closed the cap isplaced over the endof the-barrel so 'as to bring the end of thezpush pin 19 in thel recess 20, and said cap is then turned thereby to turn the plunger and releasethelock..

when the pen point may be retracted -by forcing the' cap downwardly -over`the end -ofthe barrel. The open end 4- o the reservoir will be closed by *screw-thread'. the cap onto the barrel in usual manner, it'beingl noted that thercap is provided with' the,

Provided.' ivithQ-the nonsrcul'afrzpbrti 2 6. at each endl-of`which there is .prbvided Shoulder, said shoulders; beligfd atd 2'( and 28. The spring 11 is conn "between the enlarged portion 6 and the partition 24.

' 1`he non-circular portion 25 of the plunger 1s of such a length that when the pen point is retracted the shoulder 27 is carried be- In the illustrated embodiment of my inveiition the aperture 25 is square and the portion 26 of the plunger is also square, and the plunger is providedv with the circular portions 2,9 at each end of the portion 26, which circular portion-has--the saine Adiameter as that of the aperture 25. So long as the sides of the aperture are in alinement with the sides of the portion 26 the pen point can be retracted or projected, but if the plunger is turned so as to bring the sides of the portion 26 out of alinement with the sides of the aperture the pen point will be locked, .as will be readily understood. If desired I may make .the portion 26 with a slight vtwist or spiral shape so that during the retracting and. projecting movement of' the pen point the latter will be turned slightly. This isan advantage .in fountain ens of this natureas it tends to prevent the ormationwof bubbles at the open' end 4. There-are various other ways in which the penpoint Amight be locked in its two positions and which I have not illustrated here-v in as *th'e'constructionsshown are sulicient to disclose the principle ofthe invention.

In pens of this nature it is sometimes -de.

vsirable tovbe. able'to lace the cap on the pen without withdrawing the pen point into the barrel. This is especiall true where the pen is vto be used frequent y'and it is-dev sired to close the pen temporarily after it this nature whereA the cap is provided with Y.screw-threads to engage other screw-threads on the barrel the cap cannotbe secured to the barrel except by rst withdrawing the' 'has been used each time. 'In most pens of pen point into the barreland then screwing j the cap thereon. I have provided a novel cap which can be secured to the barrel in the usualway by screwing thereon after the iis pen point has'beenretracted-,orcanbe firmly secured 'to the barrel without the necesbarrel.:l I arrange this b providinga ca -sity of withdrawing the pen point into the P. 120 with= a mouth of a variab e diameter whereby v when the'diameter ofthe mouth is re- Y duced the cap vwill frictionlly engage the barreland-fthus be held in lace to vcover the penio'int evenjtliou'gh t e latter is pro- :este

, while when the mena; is i expandea als aap, can; besqfew-mireaajw tatiana' *c There', 'are various ways' ido.

slit longitudinally at 30 and a ring 31 is slidably mounted thereon for movement toward and from the open end of the cap. When the ring is moved toward the open 5 end of the cap said end will be contracted in size so that it will frictionally en age the tapered portion 32 of the barrel am? i firmly held in place. The contracted' size of the'mouth of the cap is such that itwill have engagement with the tapered portion 32 of the barrel before the push pin 19'en-4 gages the end of the portion, 6 so that the cap may be applied to the barrel with the pen projected, as shown in Fig. 2. When the '15 ring is retracted in the posltion shown in Fig. 1 the open end of the cap will expand suiiiciently to permit the capto be screwthreaded to the barrel after the pen isretracted,-as shown in Fig. 1 the ring 31 is shown as havinga pin 37 extending inwardly therefrom, which operates in a guidin slot 36 fo-rmed in the cap, said pin and slot icing for the purpose of guiding the ring in its movement. Another way of varying the Size of the mouth of the cap would be to provide the latter near its mouth with a screw 34 bearing at its inner end ahead or clamping member v35 which normally occupies a recess inside of thel cap. When the mouth of the cap is to be reduced in diameter the screw can be advanced, thus projecting the,fric tion pad inwardly radially so as to cause the cap to engage the tapered portion 32 of the barrel. There are various ways in which the l 35 diameter of the mouth of the cap could be varied-'and' my invention isnot limited to any particular construction. v

The resistance to the retracting and projectingmovement of the pen oint which is V 40 secured by the operation of t e vlunger 12 in the chamber 13 )is of considera le.impor tance in the successful operation of the-pen. In. the construction hereln shown as well as that shown in my former patent this resist- V ance is due to the viscous friction incident to the movement of the ink into and out of the chamber 13 around the plunger. tarding movement, however, might vbe se, cured in various lother ways, such vas vby properly packin the plunger 12, without departing from t e invention. Furthermore it 1s not essential tothe invention that the.

spring 11 should be .situated as illustrated, as it might be placed in any location where 554 it wouldact to project the pen point. `Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by v Letters Patent is with' a .barrel having an ink reservoir open at one end,of a pen point adapted to be projected through said open end or retracted into the reservoir, means-to move the pen p oint relative to lthe barrel, locking means .65 located withinthe reservoir-.to holdthe pen' thus be positions.

This re- 1. In a fountain. pen, thecombination.

point positively in fully pro'ected position, and mea-ns to render lsaid loc ing means inoperative when the pen point-is onlypartially projected. v A,

2., In a fountain pen, the combination .with a barrel having an ink reservoir open at one end, of a pen point adapted .to Abe .projected through said open end or retract-l ed into the reservoir, means to move thepen point relative to the barrel, locking means within the reservoir to hold 'the pen posi tiv'ely in either its projected or itsretracted position, and means to render said locking means inoperative when the pen point is in an intermediate position.- v y 80 3. In a fountainl pen, the combination I with a barrel having an'ink reservoir openf at one end, of a pen point adapted to 'be projected'through said open end or retract#v ed into the reservoir, means to move the pen' 85l point relative to the barrel, vand automati-. cally o erative mea-ns located within the reservoir to lock the pen in its projected position.

. 4. In a fountain pen, thecombination 90 with a barrel ,having an ink reservoir' open at one end, of apen point adapted to be rojected through said open end or retracted mto the reservoir, means to move the pen point relative to the barrel, and automaticallyeoperative means located within the reservoir to lock the penl in one of'its two positions. p

5. In afountain pen, the combination with a barrel having an ink yreservoir open at one end, of a pen point adapted to be projected through saidopen end or retracted into the reservoir, means to move the penA point relative to the barrel, andlautomatically-operative means located-.within the reservoir to lock the pen ineitherof its two 6. In a fountain pen, the combination witha barrel having an ink reservoir open at one end,. ,of,a'1 pen .point adaptedpto be projected through said open end'or retracted into the reservoir, a springy for projecting said pen point, means located withinthe res-l ervoir to hold the pen point positively inzprojected positiomsaid meanshein i operlative to prevent retracting movemen of the pen point only whenA they en point is fully projected, and meansto rIA ease saidlook bya turning movementof the penfpoint rela-` tive to thebarrel. n

7. In a fountain pen; the combination withal barrel having an ,ink'reservoir open at one endhof `a pen point adaptedtobe projected. through said open end or" retracted into the reservoir, means'zto give'theipen .125 point its movement relative to' the barrel, I means within, the l reservoimtov hold `the pen point positively in, either V-its ,projected or lts retracted position, said meansbeing operative to prevent-movemetof the pen pointv 113Mo I longitudinally of the barrell only when the With a. barrel having an ink reservoir vopen at one end, of a: pen point adapted .to be projected through said open end or retracted into the reservoir, means to move the pen point relative to the barrel, means Within the reservoir to lock said pen point in its projected position, a cap' for t-he pen, and

means to release said lock by or through turning movement of the cap when it is a.pv

A plied to the open end of the barrel.

9. In a fountain pen, the combina-tion with a barrel having an ink vreservoir open at one end, of a pen point `adapted to be projected through said open end or 'retract-5 'ed into the reservoir, means to move the pen point relative to the barrel, means Within the reservoir .to lock said penI in either its retracted or projected position, and means 'to release, -the pen by or` t-hrough a turning movement of the cap When it is applied to the openend of the barrel.

10. In a fountain p'en, the combination With a barrel having an ink reservoirtopen, at one end, of a pen'point adapted Ito be projected through said open end or ret-racted into the reservoir, means to move the pen point relative to the barrel, means within. the reservoir to lock the pen point in either of its t-Wo positions, which lock is released j 'by a turning movement of the -pen point, a

cap for the pen, and means oper-ated by the -aid penpoint thereby to release the lock.

11.' In a fountain pen, the combination with barrel having an inkreservoir open at one end, said barrel being tapered exteriorly at said end, of a pen point adapted to. be projected through said open end .or 'retracted intofthe reservoir, a cap having a mouth which isvnormally of a' size to slide freely over the barrel, and manuallyoperable means to contract said mouth to a size to fit and frictionally engagel the tapered part of the barrel or to permit it to have its normal size whereby when the mouth of the cap is contracted and said cap is placed over the open .end o f the barrel said tapered portion willl limit the telescopin movement of the cap over the barrel wh1 e when the mouth has its uncontracted normal size it can be freely telescoped .over the barrel. I 12: In a fountainA pen, the combination with abarrel having an ink reservoir open at one end, of .a pen point adapted to be projected through said open end or retracted into the reservoir, -a springf for projecting said. point, a'nd means within tlie reserpenfpoint in its projected position'.v u

Ijecting said pen point, a stem or rod asso- 13. In a fountain pen, the combination with a barrel having an ink reservoir open at one end, of a pen point adapted to be projected through said open end or retracted into the. reservoir, a 'spring for prociated With the pen pointand extending longitudinally of t-he barrel Wit-hin the latter, and-means coperating with said stem to lock the pen point in its retracted position against the action ofthe spring.

14. In a fountain pen, the combination With a barrel having'4 an ink reservoir open at one end, o-f-a pen point adapted to be projected through said open end,'or retracted into the reservoir, a spring for projecting said pen point, a st-em 'or rod associated with the pen point and extending longitudinally of the barrel 'Within the latter, and means coperating with said stem to lock the-'pen pbint in its projected position.

15. In ay fountain pen, the combination With a barrel having an ink reservoir open at one end, of a pen point adapted to be projected through said open end or retracted into the reservoir, means t'o move the pen point relative to the barre, a stenr or rod associated with the pen point and extending longitudinally of the barrel Within the latA ter, and automatically-operative means cooperating With said stem to lock the penpoint in its retracted posit-ion.

- 16. In al fountain ipen, the' combination -Wit'h abarrel having jan ink reservoir open at one' end, of a pen) po-int adaptedto be 100 vprojected through said open end or retracted into the reservoir, means tol move the pen point relative to the barrel, a stem or rod associated with the pen point and extending longitudinally ofthe barrel Within the latter, and automatically-operative means cooperating with said stem to lock the pen point in its projected position.

17. AIn a fountain pen, the combinatlon with a,l barrel having an ink reservoir open 4at o ne end, of a pen point adapted to be projectedgthrough said open end or retracted into the reservoir, means to move the pen point -relative to the barrel, a stem or rod associatedwith the pen point and situated within the barrel, said stemv having a lockin shoulder, and a locking member tocoopy ate with said shoulder to hold the pen point in its retracted position. l

1 8.l In va fountain pen, the combination. 120

with a barrel havingan i nk reservo1r open ,at one end, of "a ypen'polnt adapted to be projectedthroughsaid open end or retracted into the reservoir, means to move the pen point relative to -the barrel, a stem or rod .126 vassociated' with the penv point and situated within `the barrehsaid stem having a lock-i ing shoulder, and a lockingl member to cooperate With said shoulder to holdthe pen point in its projected position.

'19. In a fountain pen, Ithe combination with a barrel having an ink reservoir open within the reservoir and connected to andV movable Withthe en point, said stem having a locking shou in member to eng loc the pen point 1n its retracted position, the turning movement of the stem relative to the locking member releasin the latter.

- 20. In a fountain pen, t e combination with a barrel having an mk reservoir open at one end, of a pen vpoint adapted to be der, and a resilient lock-- age said shoulder and projected throilgh said open end or retracted into the reservoir, means to move the penv pointrelative to the barrel, a stem or rod within the reservoir andconnectedto and movable withvthe pen point, .said 'stem having two op osed klng shoulders, and a esilient loc l'ng member coperating with saidgsholders to lock the pen point in either its retracted -or projected position.. 1

In testimony whereof, I have signed myv name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. A

l JOSEPH G. COFFIN. Vlitnesses:v

LoUIs C. SMrrH, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND. 

